The now discontinued Voigtlander Series
I SL lenses were a limited
edition series of LUXURY SLR lenses produced in Japan by Cosina: 12/5.6 Aspherical, 15/4.5
Aspherical, 40/2 Aspherical, 75/2.5, 90/3.5 APO, 125/2.5 APO 1:1 Macro and 180/4
APO. All feature very high quality traditional
construction, and are styled to look like classic Zeiss Contarex lenses even down to the
chrome bayonet on lens hoods. Available fixed mounts at
one time available were Nikon
AIS, Canon FD, Pentax K-A, Pentax 42mm Screw Mount, Minolta MD, Contax / Yashica MM,
and Olympus OM. The 12 and 15 are available ONLY in Nikon F mount
for mirror lockup. Leica
R mount was NOT available. All SL series 1 lenses use the Nikon style of
helical
focusing direction. They were a
bonanza of quality manual focus lens choices for fans of these all but discontinued manual focus SLR bodies. Mr. Kobayashi
(the President of Cosina) very much enjoys unusual lens designs.
Of
the 7 Voigtlander SL 1 lenses, it is noteworthy 3 are Aspherical and 3 are Apochromatic. In
terms of their respective speeds, focal lengths, and Aspherical and Apochromatic
optical designs, each of the Voigtlander SL lenses were
the ONLY SLR
lenses of their specifications manufactured at that time.

Collecting all 7 plus the 58/1.4
Topcor, Nikon F/F2 Accessory Base, and F-S and F-L lens adapters is a VERY
challenging goal!

The Voigtlander SL I 12/5.6 mounted on a
Nikon SP, and the Voigtlander SL 15/4.5 mounted on a Nikon F2. This
non-retrofocus Voigtlander 12mm lens is the widest non fish eye ever made for
either Nikon Rangefinder or Nikon SLRs. These are the same non-retrofocus
optics as Voigtlander's Leica screw mount lenses, but produced in Nikon F mount
designed for mirror lock up, with higher standards of finish and machining than
the Leica screw lenses. The SL 12 and 15 look like they came off a production
line in the late 1950's during the rangefinder's golden era.
SPECS: SL 12/5.6, f/stop range 5.6 to 22,
half click stops, close focus .3 meters, SL 15/5.6 f/stop range 4.5 to 22,
close focus to .3 meters. Finders and front/rear caps included with
lenses. Optional are the Nikon F Accessory shoe, F-S adapter, and F-L
adapter. See Separate Page

The Voigtlander SL 1 40/2 Ultron Aspherical has 6 elements in 5 groups, 9 aperture blades, a smallest aperture f/16, a
close focus distance .4 m, a filter size of 52mm, a weight of 255 grams, a
diameter 63.5mm, and a length 29.5 mm focused to infinity. The
Japanese Cosina website states this lens is exceptionally well corrected, even
at f/2. Users have their choice of two optional hoods. One is the
"tube" shaped hood above, another looks much like an open dome, and is not
illustrated here. Personally, I know of no other 40/2 Aspherical SLR lenses.

December 2003: Ok folks, some things are stranger than fiction. Mr.
Kobayashi likes his Topcon Super D of 1963 enough to style Voigtlander's new silver
Bessaflex after it, even producing a Topcon style 58/1.4 complete with the
Topcon engraving. Mr. Kobayashi received the blessings of Tokyo
Optical, which is still in business manufacturing medical equipment. This
lens developed a legendary status in Japan.

The new Voigtlander 58/1.4 Topcor is a new optical design
and styled after the classic 58/1.4 Topcor, even down to the Topcor's bayonet
on lens hood. These are limited edition lenses, with 800 each
announced to be produced in Pentax 42mm screw mount and Nikon AI mount.
The lens barrel is out of place in today's plastic lens world, with real classic
style chrome, looking just like it came off Topcon's production line in the
1960's. The lens barrel is beautifully made, and rather amazing in the
"find any way to make it cheaper" manufacturing times. Side by side
the new Topcor is a bit smaller than the original, so the hoods will not
interchange. Specs: 7 elements in 6 groups, multi-coated, f/1.4 to f/16, 9
aperture leaves, 58mm filter size, close focus to .45 meter or 1:5.8, weight 305
grams (Nikon).

The Voigtlander SL I 75/2.5 Color Heliar
has 6 elements in 5 groups, 9 aperture blades, a smallest
aperture of f/22, a close focus distance of .7m which works out to be 1:7, a
filter size of 49mm, a weight of 250 grams, a diameter of 63.5 mm, and a length
40.2 mm focused to infinity. Personally, I know of no other 75/2.5
SLR lens. Notice the beautifully well done and expensive to machine hood
bayonet mount. There are two lens hoods, the round LH-75S and the square
LH-75. Both are also used on all mounts of the Voigtlander SL 75/2.5, 90/3.5 and 180/4. To
mount the hoods, line up the red dots, push in on the hood, and then rotate the
hood clockwise. To remove the hood, rotate it counter clockwise.

Voigtlander SL 1 75/2.5 Color-Heliar with square LH-75
Lens hood.

LH-75S bayonet on Hood with metal lens cap for SL I
75/2.5, 90/3.5, and 180/4

The Voigtlander SL 1 90/3.5 APO-Lanthar
went on sale in Japan in June 2002. It has 6 elements in
5 groups, 9 aperture blades, a smallest aperture of f/22, a close
distance of .5m (which works out to be 1:3.5 magnification), a filter size
of 49mm, a weight of 390grams, a diameter 63.5mm, and a length 57.6 mm focused to infinity. Personally, I know
of no other 90/3.5 Apochromatic SLR lens. Notice the beautifully well done and expensive
to machine hood bayonet mount. There are two lens hoods, the round LH-75S
and the square LH-75. Both are also used on all mounts of the
Voigtlander SL 75/2.5, 90/3.5 and 180/4. To
mount the hoods, line up the red dots, push in on the hood, and then rotate the
hood clockwise. To remove the hood, rotate it counter clockwise.

Voigtlander Series I SL 90/3.5 on Pentax LX with round LH-75S Lens Hood

Voigtlander SL 1 90/3.5 and 75/2.5 lenses, at infinity
focus and close focus

The Voigtlander SL I 125/2.5 APO-Lanthar
has 11 elements in 9 groups, 9 aperture blades, a smallest aperture of
f/22, a close focus distance of 1:1 or .38m, a filter size 58mm, a weight
of 690 grams, a diameter of 76 mm, and a length of 88.2 mm focused to
infinity. The square hood is included with the lens. Buyers report
they are very happy with it. At infinity the lens is 3 1/2" long, at 1:1 just under 6." Notice
the beautifully well done and expensive to machine hood bayonet mount. There
are two lens hoods, the round LH-75S and the square LH-75. Both are also
used on all mounts of the Voigtlander SL 75/2.5, 90/3.5 and 180/4. To
mount the hoods, line up the red dots, push in on the hood, and then rotate the
hood clockwise. To remove the hood, rotate it counter clockwise.
Unlike the other SL lenses, the
125/2.5 was also produced in manual focus Canon EOS and Minolta Maxxum mounts,
which are the hardest to find 125 mounts. In the used market the 125/2.5 remains in high demand
and enjoys a cult following for its extraordinary performance. In fact, it
would not be exaggerating at all to say this lens has become legendary.

The Voigtlander SL I 180/4 APO-Lanthar
has 9 elements in 7 groups, 9 aperture blades, a smallest aperture of
f/22, a close focus distance of 1.2 meters or 1:4, 49mm filter size, diameter
of 65.6mm, and weight of 485grams. The 180/4 was introduced in September 2003.
Notice the beautifully well done and expensive to machine hood bayonet
mount. There are two lens hoods, the round LH-75S and the square LH-75.
Both are also used on all mounts of the Voigtlander SL 75/2.5, 90/3.5 and 180/4. To
mount the hoods, line up the red dots, push in on the hood, and then rotate the
hood clockwise. To remove the hood, rotate it counter clockwise.